San Diego Weekend Roundup March 8-11

Take in the sights at the annual Cherry Blossom Festival in the Japanese Friendship Garden.

From floral attractions to boozy dinners and festivals, check out the top San Diego weekend events for March 8-11.

Edited by Whitney Lauren Han.

EVENTS

Aries Spears at the American Comedy Club Mar. 8. From being a regular on Fox’s Mad TV, starring in feature films, appearing on a number of national talk shows and continually touring the country with his stand-up, guests can now witness comedian Aries Spears in action. 21+. Th 8 p.m., F 7:30 p.m. & 9:30 p.m. $22. 818-B 6th Ave., San Diego, 619.795.3858. americancomedyco.com

Cherry Blossom FestivalMar. 9-11. Welcome spring with open arms while appreciating the beauty of cherry blossom flowers—the Japanese custom of hanami. Each day will be accompanied by various food vendors, cultural performances and demonstrations and family-friendly activities. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. $12 pre-sale, $10 GA; $8 students, active military, seniors (65+) with ID; free for ages 6 and under. Japanese Friendship Garden, 2215 Pan American Road E., San Diego, 619.232.2721. niwa.org

14th Annual Daffodil ShowMar. 10-11. Celebrate spring with The Flower of Hope and view over a thousand daffodils on display. Visitors can have their questions about daffodils answered by National Daffodil Society experts. Noon-5 p.m. Free. Julian Town Hall, 2129 Main St., Julian, 760.765.1857. visitjulian.com

TomatomaniaMar. 10-11. Scott Daigre’s Tomatomania returns with his famous weekend-long sale of heirloom and hybrid tomato seedlings. Enjoy tomato-themed refreshments and take a garden docent-led tour of the venue at 10 a.m. (offered both days) where you can get first-hand information on the plants and trees growing at The Garden. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Free. The Water Conservation Garden, 12122 Cuyamaca College Dr. West, El Cajon, 619.660.1687. thegarden.org

San Diego Half Marathon & 5K Mar. 11. Stretch out your legs for the annual premier race that celebrates the beauty and uniqueness of San Diego while raising money to help its communities. All net proceeds are donated to community service projects and local charitable causes. 7 a.m. See website for prices and registration. Petco Park, 100 Park Blvd., San Diego, 619.33.6786. sdhalfmarathon.com

Taste of ThirdMar. 8. Take a tantalizing self-guided trip through the tree-lined streets of Chula Vista’s Original Neighborhood. Enjoy discounted drinks from various locations, including local breweries, tasting rooms and bars. Along the culinary course, there will be a variety of entertainment to keep you grooving through the evening. 21+. 4-8 p.m. $25 advance, $30 day-of. 353 Third Ave., Chula Vista, 619.422.1982. thirdavenuevillage.com

San Diego Homebrew Festival & CompetitionMar. 10. Cheers to unlimited tastes of beer from 35+ San Diego homebrewers as well as local breweries at the inaugural festival. All proceeds will be used to fund enrichment programs, scholarships and other necessities at North Park’s public school Jefferson Elementary IB STEAM Magnet. 21+. Noon-4 p.m. $35 GA. North Park Mini Park Site, 2896 N. Park Way, San Diego. sdhomebrewfest.com